Machine for extracting fiber from palms and the like



Patentd June 8, 1920.

4 5HhEISSHEET I TOR,

HQH. HOLDAWAY.

[NLE Halal/70mg;

APPLiCATION FILED AUG-2,1918.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FIBER FROM PALMS AND THE LIKE. 1342,714.

H. H. HOLDAWAY.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FIBER FROM PALMS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-2, V1918.

1,32,714. Patented June 8, 1920.

4 SHEETS$HEET 2.

J 1 f5 I 19 14 Z 292 1 f 15 jfw/z ro M1157. Z2 Mall/a9 H. H. HOLDAWAY.

I MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FIBER FROM PALMS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-Z1918.

1,842,71 4. PatenEeZI Q I 1:116 i820.

17 17 a 17 1 17 s 1 6/ 9 j j e 8 f9 H. H. HOLDAWAY. MACHINE FOR EXTRAGTING FIBER FROM PALMS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION- FILED AUG-2, I918.

Patented June 8, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- ZNY/ENTOR,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HALL I-I. Z-IOLIDA'WAY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR EXTRACTING FIBER FRGlz-I PALMS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 2,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HALL H. IIOLDAWAY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Los'ringeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Extracting Fiber from Palms and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for extracting the iiber from palms and other tropical and semi-tropical plants and the primary object is to provide means whereby the fiber may be separated from the pulp in a continuous process and so treated during the passage thereof through the machine that it will be substantially clean and free from particles of the pulp and capable of being made into cords, rope and the like.

Uther objects include the provision at successive points in the machine of separate and somewhat different means for breaking, crushing and washing the liber so that the pulp may be gradually eliminated therefrom, a preferred means for accomplishing the above results consisting of successive sets of rolls between which the leaves in their original and natural form are compressed and broken and su )sequently advanced to further points in the machine for both similar and somewhat different treatment in order to insure a complete and thorough breaking up of the structure.

- A further object is to provide in addition to the mechanical means mentioned, means for washing the fiber at successive points during the treatment and for the further supplying to points in the machine of suitable chemicals by means of which the pulpy matter of the leaves may be decomposed or separated from the long fiber. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed for indicating the same andlike parts,--

Figure 1 is a plan of my improved machine, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 1 is a right hand side elevation. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the center of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a left hand side elevation of the same.

My improved machine comprises a bed plate or base P having'side ribs 1 and 2 of similar form, end ribs 3 and l connecting Specification of Le ttcrs Patent.

1918. Serial No. 248,661.

with the said side ribs and transverse inner ribs 5; also the side ribs 1 and 2 have vertically extending members 1", 1 1, 1, 1 and 1 and 2, 2 2, 2, 2 and 2, respec tively; and sets of rollers AA, B-B, (-(l, DD, E-E and F-F are provided as shown and are adapted to be rotatably mounted on the base as will be hereinafter described.

The primary set of rollers AA are rotatably supported at the left hand side and the front end of the machine with their axes in vertical alinement and on shafts 6 and '5, respectively, which are carried in bearings 8 formed on brackets 9 suitably supported on and extended from the side rib l of base P, the peripheries of the rollers being in res ient contact normally and the fibrous leaves, which are usually from the needle or Yucca palm being manually fed between the rollers .31 A and thereafter deposited upon suitable table 10. The leaves are fed between the rollers lengthwise and when deposited upon the table 10 occupy positions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The other sets rollers, BB, CC, D-D, EE and FF are arranged transversely of the machine and at right angles to the rollers AA, the upper rollers of these sets being sup ported at the opposite ends in vertically adjustable bearings B B B 13*, B respectively, which are slidably held between the members 1 and l 1 and 1, 1 and 1,

1 and 1 and 1 and l respectively of the side rib 1 of base P, and the opposite and similar bearings are likewise held between the members 2 and 2", 2 and 2, 2 and 2, 2 and 2 and 2 and 2, respectively.

The lower rollers of these sets are held in the stationary bearings b, c, d, e and 7 at opposite sides of the machine carried by or formed in the side ribs 1 and 2, the axes of the rollers of each of these sets being in vertical alinement at all times and the upper rollers being adapted to resiliently engage the lower rollers by means of coil springs 11, 11, 11, etc, which seat upon the upper surfaces of the upper roller bearings B B B B and 13. Caps 12, 12, 12, etc., are supported upon the upper ends of the members 1, 1*, 1, 1, 1 1 2, 2", 2 2 2 and 2 and are attached thereto by means of cap screws or bolts 18, 13, 13, etc, and each of these caps has a central enlarged body portion 1 1, 1%, etc, which is recessed or counter-bored at the bottom to receive the inverted spring cups 15, 15, etc., these springs 11 being held in compression between the roller bearings described and the spring cups seated in the cap enlargements so as to hold the rollers of each set in resilient engagement.

The rollers of each set may be adjusted as to the spacing therebetween by means of a pair of telescoping adjusting screws 16, 16, etc., and 17, 17, etc., provided for each of the caps 12, the screws 16 being threaded through the cap portions 14 so that their lower ends will rest upon the upper surfaces of the adjustable bearings and the heads 16 thereof will rest upon the upper surfaces of the cap enlargements or bodies 14, thus limiting the downward movement of the upper rollers of the sets.

The smaller and innermost screws 17 may be riveted or otherwise attached to the bearings B B B 13* and B and extend entirely through the screws 16 and are provided with a pair of nuts 18 thereabove by means of which the upward movement of the upper rollers of the sets may be limited. The tension of the springs 11 may be adjusted by means of a pair of adjusting screws 19 threaded through'the enlargements 14 of the caps 12 and having their lower ends engaging the upper surfaces of the spring cups 15.

The rollers BB, C-C, DD, 12-12 and FF are keyed or otherwise suitably attached to transverse shafts 20 and 21, 22 and 23, 24 and 25, 26 and 27 and 28 and 29, respectively, which are extended through the bearings on the right hand side of the machine, in the form of machine shown, and shafts 20, 21, 23, 24, 25,v 27, 28 and 29, respectively carry gears 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 which have a pitch diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the rollers on the respective shafts. The said gears are connected for operation by idler pinion gears 38, 39, 40 and 41, as shown in Fig. 4, and these idler gears are rotatably supported on brackets 42 and 43 attached to the side 1 of the base by means of bolts 44. A countershaft 45 is also supported on the bracket 43 and a pinion gear 46 is carried thereby which meshes with a relatively large gear 47 supported on the outer end of shaft 25 for driving the train of gears just described. Motion from a counter shaft or line shaft, not shown, may be communicated. to the shaft 45 by means of a driven pulley 48 and a belt 49, as shown.

The spaces between lower or stationarily supported rollers of each of the sets B-B D- D, E-E, and F-F are bridged by horizontally disposed plates 50, 50, etc, which are attached to the sides 1 and 2 of the base P by means of bolts 51 extending through lugs 52 thereon and the forward edges of these plates are adapted to closely engage the peripheries of the lower rollers B, C, D and E, while the opposite edges thereof are substantially spaced from the peripheries ofv the rollers adjacent thereto for reasons to be hereinafter described.

It will be observed that the intermediate sets of rollers CC and EE are provided with bands of rubber or the like, as at 53 so that frictional surfaces may be provided thereon, and also that the final sets of rollers F F have corrugated peripheries, as at 54, the corrugations of which intermesh.

Shafts 22 and 26 which carry the intermediate upper rollers C and E are provided with gears 55 and 56 on the left hand side of the machine which are driven by means of gears 57 and 58 on the shafts 23 and 27, the gears 57 and 58 being substantially wider than those and 56 with which they mesh so that the upper rollers may have a longitudinal movement relative to the lower rollers on these shafts, and in such case the gears 55 and 56 may slide over the gears 57 and 58 while still in mesh.

A lever 59 is pivotally mounted at its center on a bracket 60 which is attached to the left hand side member 2 by means of bolts 61 and on the opposite ends of this lever yokes 62 and 63 are formed which are adapted to receive pins 64 in the bifurcated ends thereof, said pins being carried by split collars 65 loosely held on rotatable collars 66 on the ends of shafts 22 and 26. Another bracket 67 is attached to the-mere ber 2 of the base by means of bolts 68 and carries a countershaft 69 which may be operably connected with the line shaft by means of a pulley 70 and a belt 71, and an eccentric 72 is also carried by shaft 69 intermediate of its bearings 73 and 74. Lever 59 has an arm 75 substantially at right angles to the yokes thereon which is connected with an eccentric strap 76, held on said eccentric, by means of a link 77. Thus the rotation of the eccentric on shaft 69 from a source apart from the machine will effect the operation of the yokes 62 and 63 for moving the rollers C and it longitudinally of the lower rollers of their respective setsv and regardless of the speed of rotation thereof.

After the material has been passed sidewise between the rollers A A, the fiber of the leaves in such case paralleling the axes of the rollers AA, it is fed endwise through rollers 13-13, the fiber now being at right angles to the aXes of the rollers B-B, thence in a similar manner between the ro-" tatable and reciprocating rollers CC, which serve to crush the pulp and fiber. of the material, and also to further and simultaneously advance the same to the rollers D-.D. The fiber is thenv further crushed or ironed out by the rollers D- -D and fed between the rollers EE .whereupon the material is again rolled and finally fed between the corrugated rollers F-F, which serve to pull the remaining pulp away from the long fiber strands and discharge the same upon a suitable table 78.

The successive operations as described, subject the fibrous material to a breaking and crushing of the pulp and also effect a complete separation of the pulp from the fiber after these elements have been broken apart, and in order to insure a complete elimination of the pulp from the fiber before the final operation I provide a water supply pipe '79 which has depending branches SOand 81 and spray pipes 82 at tached thereto between the sets of rollers B-B and CC and D-D and EE, the water being sprayed from the pipes downwardly upon the material as the same is advanced from one to the other set of rollers, and thus serving to wash the material and separate the loose pulp from the fiber. The waste water and pulp is discharged from the bridge plates 50 through the spaces provided at the rear edges of these plates adjacent the rollers.

As a frequently necessary expedient, another pipe line 83 having branches Set and S5 and spray pipes 86 connected therewith, is provided for supplying a suitable chemical to the spaces'between the roller sets CC and D D and E-E and F-F, from which spray pipes, the chemical solution is discharged upon the material so that a cutting 'or decomposition of the pulp may result and at the same time wash away the material thus separated.

The material used for treatment in my machine is cut from the plants having long and narrow leaves and is fed into the initial set of rollers AA in a dry state, so that in the initial operation of the process the major portion of the pulp may be broken up and to a large extent separated from the fiber of the material. The subsequent o 'ierations, as described, are mere repetitions of the initial operation and serve to gradually eliminate more of the waste and useless material. But, as stated, the character of the treatments at the different steps of the process is somewhat different and. more elaborate and effective as the amount of the pulp decreases.

lVhile I have shown a preferred form of machine by means of which the objects of my invention may be carried out effectively, it will be apparent that the structure of the device may be modified and altered within the scope of the appended claims without enlarging the scope or departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim, is:

1. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a pair of relatively adjustable receiving rolls, a plurality of pairs of relatively adjustable non-frictional rolls connected therewith, a plurality of pairs of frictional rolls alternately arranged relative to said non-frictional rolls and connected with said other rolls, and relatively adjustable corrugated rolls having intermeshing peripheral surfaces for finally separating the pulp from the fiber in said material.

2. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a table at one end of said f 'ame, a pair of receiving rollers having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame and above said table, whereby fibrous material may be fed therebetween and subsequently deposited upon said table, and a plurality of pairs of frictional rollers mounted on said frame and having their axes transversely disposed relative thereto for the further treatment of the fibrous material.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and non-frictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, whereby fibrous leaves and the like may be fed between said receiving rollers sidewise and deposited upon said table and thereafter fed endwise throlwh said frictional and non-frictional rollers for separating the pulp from the fiber.

a. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and non-frictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, a set of intermeshing corrugated rollers paralleling said frictional and non-frictional rollers for finally treating the material, whereby fibrous leaves and the like may be fed between said receiving rollers sidewise and deposited upon said table and thereafter fed endwise through said frictional and non-frictional rollers for separat- 3 ing the pulp from the fiber.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and nonfrictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, a set of intermeshing corrugated rollers paralleling said frictional and nonfrictional rollers for finally treating the material, horizontal members spanning the spaces between the lower rollers of adjacent sets and supported on said frame for facilitating the feeding of the material successively from one to another set of said rollers, whereby fibrous leaves and the like may be fed between said receiving rollers sidewise and deposited upon said table and thereafter fed endwise through said frictional and nonfrictional rollers for separating the pulp from the fiber. I

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and non-frictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, a set of intermeshing corrugated rollers paralleling said frictional and non-frictional rollers for finally treating the material, horizontal members spanning the spaces between the lower rollers of adjacent sets and supported on said frame for facilitating the feeding of the material successively from one to another set of said rollers, means for reciprocating said frictional rollers, whereby fibrous leaves and the like may be fed between said receiving rollers sidewise and deposited upon said table and thereafter fed endwise through said frictional and non-frictional rollers for separating the pulpv from the fiber.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and nonfrictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, a set of intermeshing corrugated rollers paralleling said frictional and nonfrictional rollers for finally treating the material, horizontal members spanning the the combination of a frame, a receiving table at one end thereof, a pair of crushing rollers mounted above said table and having their axes disposed longitudinally of said frame, alternating sets of frictional and non-frictional rollers supported on said frame and having their axes disposed transversely thereof, a set of intermeshing corrugated rollers paralleling said frictional and nonfrictional rollers for finally treating the material, horizontal members spanning the spaces between the lower rollers of adjacent sets and supported on said frame for facilitating the feeding of the material sucessively from one to another set of said rollers, means for reciprocating said frictional rollers, means between said sets of rollers for washing the material during its passage therebetween, gearing for operably connecting all of said rollers, whereby fibrous leaves and the like may be fed between said receiving rollers sidewise and deposited upon said table and thereafter fed endwise through said frictional and non-frictional rollers for separating the pulp from the fiber.

HALL H. HOLDAWVAY.

Witnesses BOYD S. LEllART, LUTHER L. MACK. 

